Commentary
Acquiring, raising and developing heifers is one of the highest expenses of milk production. Managing them intentionally and separately provides an opportunity for veterinary teams to educate dairy teams about heifer development and improve herd performance.
In many cases, heifer care, feeding and reproductive programs are not held to the same standards and producers need to rethink how dairy heifers are managed, according to the authors. Reproductive improvements in cows have come through deliberate attention to detail, such as precise nutritional strategies, reduced lock-up times and strict protocol compliance.
Source: AgProud, September 15, 2025. Link. Reproductive delays in heifers come at a cost, just like in cows. Even a short setback delaying conception can quietly raise the total cost of raising, with added feed, labor and space that often go unnoticed but still chip away at profitability.
Improving heifer fertility requires the same intentionality applied to lactating cows, beginning with clear performance metrics and consistent monitoring.”
Image: Link.